Python script - how to pass password as variable from command line arguments

Question

I am running a REST call using python to generate a access token. The REST call payload has password value. I dont want to hardcode the password there but pass it as an option while running the python script. Below is the payload inside the python script.

payload = "grant_type=client_credentials&client_id=userid&client_secret=password&scope=AppIdClaimsTrust&intent=RequestLink"

Currently I exectute the script by python script.py

Answer 1

Set the token as an environment variable:

$ export TOKEN=XXXXXXX

Then using the os library:

#!/usr/bin/env python
import os

token = os.environ['TOKEN'] 

Use token where you would normally hard code it into your script.

Alternatively, you could pass it as a command line argument.

$ python script.py XXXXXXXX

In your script, access the token using:

#!/usr/bin/env python
import sys

if len(sys.argv) > 1:
    token = sys.argv[1]
else:
    print("No token passed")